Soft Play Centres

Soft Play Centres

Child playing in soft play centre

The child equivalent of a gym, soft play centres usually feature padded structures for climbing, sliding, and swinging on. They are many parents’ weapon of choice when it comes to overly energetic children, providing a year-round, weather-proof place to burn off energy safely.

Ranging in size from a small addition to a café or restaurant to a large, purpose-built warehouse with themed rooms, Cumbria has a great selection of soft play centres, ensuring that you will always find something for your children to do even during the worst rain storms.

Benefits of Soft Play Centres

There are some great benefits to visiting a soft play centre with your child. They make exercise fun, providing an easy way to ensure that your child remains active. They test your child’s gross motor skills with structures to climb up and crawl through. Many have puzzles to complete or building blocks to create structures, and some have areas where your children can play a team based game, such as football or target hitting with sponge balls. In addition, most have a café area where parents can relax with a coffee and cake whilst their child plays safely.

Where to Find Soft Play Centres in the Lake District

If you want to visit a soft play centre during your Lake District stay, then there are plenty of opportunities available to you. It’s worth mentioning that most are located within the larger towns that sit just outside the edge of the National Park boundary, but you certainly won’t have to travel a large distance to find one close to your accommodation. Do check the opening times in advance of your visit, as many host private children’s parties and may be closed.

Jordan’s Jungle, Cockermouth

Situated in Cockermouth, Jordan’s Jungle is a ten-minute walk from the National Trust property – Wordsworth’s House. One of the smaller centres, it has a climbing structure for older children with slides, and play area for children aged 3 and under. The café serves hot and cold food.

  • Address: Lorton Street, Cockermouth, CA13 9RU
  • Telephone: 01900 826 115
  • Website: www.jordans-jungle.co.uk 
  • Cost: £4 Per Play

Aztec Soft Play Carlisle

A short walk from the shops in Carlisle city centre, Aztec Soft Play has been designed with both children and parents in mind. Children can have fun on the large play structures with interactive features. There is a separate toddler area to keep younger children safe. In addition, there is a bistro serving a varied selection of food with free Wi-Fi and television screens.

  • Address: Crown Street, Carlisle, CA2 5AB
  • Telephone: 01228 592 002
  • Website: www.aztecsoftplay.co.uk 
  • Cost: £1-£6 per hour dependant on age and time of visit

Monkey Madhouse, Workington

Small but well-equipped, Monkey Madhouse in Workington offers good value for money with unlimited play available for just £4. The centre is popular with local parents thanks to the design of the play structure that allows you to view your child at all times and includes a separate play area for younger children and a small enclosed ball game area.

The Fun Factory, Bowness-On-Windermere

Enjoy views over Lake Windermere on comfortable sofas whilst your children explore the large play structures at the Fun Factory in Bowness. One of the few soft play centres located within the National Park’s boundaries, The Fun Factory does not have its own car park, which can be a problem during the peak holiday periods.

Funtastic, Workington

Located in the centre of Workington, Funtastic is one of the larger soft play centres in Cumbria. There is a climbing structure with slides, a large ball pit with suction tubes, ball shower, and ball cannons, a baby and toddler area, and a bouncy castle. The café serves a varied selection of hot and cold food.

  • Address: Ladies Walk, Workington, CA14 3BA
  • Telephone: 01900 601 666
  • Website: www.funtastic.me.uk 
  • Cost: From £3.50

Planet Play, Lillyhall

This huge soft play centre is located within a large warehouse between Workington and Cockermouth. As well as the usual climbing structures that include a separate play area for babies and toddlers, Planet Play has an indoor kart-track, an indoor sports pitch, and a sensory room. A princess-themed pamper room is available with pre-booking required. There is a large café serving a selection of hot and cold food.

Magic Castle, Carlisle

With a slide dropping straight into a huge ball pit, this soft play centre is sure to be a hit with your little adventurers. There is a separate play area for younger children and a bouncy castle. The café serves light lunches and snacks, and the centre is a 20-minute walk from Carlisle train station.

Adventure World, Carlisle

With two distinct areas separating older children from younger children, Adventure World in Carlisle offers a safe place for your child to climb, crawl, and explore. Parents can relax in the café area with free Wi-Fi and good views of the children as they play. The centre is located just a few minutes’ walk from Carlisle train station, so is conveniently located for visitors to the castle and shops.

Billy Bears Fun Centre, Whitehaven

If you are staying in the West Lake District near Eskdale, then Billy Bears Fun Centre in Whitehaven is a convenient place to take your little ones when the weather is poor. There are climbing structures, slides, and plenty of toddler toys. The centre is aimed at children under the age of 6, and there is a café serving light bites and drinks.

Child’s Play, Aspatria

This soft play centre in Aspatria, between Carlisle and Cockermouth, is one of the smallest in the area, but it does have an outside play area. Inside you will find a climbing structure for older children and a small area for babies and toddlers. The café serves light lunches, snacks and drinks. The centre is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Jungle Jacks, Penrith

Jungle Jacks is a fairly new soft play centre, having opened in 2015 within the Penrith Leisure Centre. Suitable for children under the age of 10, there are objects to climb, wobbly bridges, and crawling tunnels to explore. The café serves snacks and drinks and the centre is located close to Penrith town centre.

Rookies Of Wigton

Catering for children up to the age of 11, Rookies Of Wigton is a fairly large soft play centre packed with things to do. In addition to a giant slide, tunnels, and climbing structures, there is a giant walk on piano, a ball game pitch, and a separate toddler area with a car track. Wigton is located between Carlisle and Cockermouth.

Fun For Kids, Kendal

With a bouncy castle, slides, climbing frames, and ride on toys, there is plenty to keep your children entertained at Fun For Kids in Kendal. This open plan centre makes it easy to keep an eye on your child whilst you relax with a drink in the café. There is a separate play area for children under the age of 3 years.

The Funhouse, Whitehaven

A small centre that is easily accessible for those staying in the western Lake District, The Funhouse, Whitehaven, is a delightful place to relax whilst your children get to grips with the climbing structure. Designed to enable parents to view their children throughout, the centre includes a small separate play area for babies and toddlers.

  • Address: Red Lonning Industrial Estate, Whitehaven, CA28 6SJ
  • Telephone: 01946 599 399
  • Website: www.funhousesoftplay.co.uk 
  • Cost: £3.50 per hour or £4.50 for unlimited play

Totspot, Whitehaven

Soft play with extras, Tot Spot includes a play room where you and your child can do craft activities, as well as a large soft play area. There is no café here, although hot drinks are available. Furthermore, you can choose to leave your child in the care of qualified early years staff for up to two hours whilst you enjoy a trip to the shops. Suitable for children up to age 8.

  • Address: Lowther Street, Whitehaven, CA28 7AL
  • Telephone: 07746 687 209
  • Website: www.totspotwhitehaven.co.uk 
  • Cost: From £3.50 per hour

Treasure Island Kids, Penrith

Treasure Island Kids is located on the outskirts of Penrith, and follows a pirate theme, with a climbing structure for older children resembling a pirate ship. There is a separate play area for babies and toddlers and a café with comfortable seating where parents can relax.

PlayZone, Barrow

Housed on the first floor of the Custom House in Barrow, a family friendly restaurant, PlayZone is a soft play centre that is better suited for preschool / primary age children rather than young babies and toddlers. There are climbing frames, a ball pool, and a large selection of soft bricks that can be used to create structures. You can grab a drink and snack in the café, or head downstairs after playing for a meal.

Little Subs Play N Bounce, Barrow

This large soft play centre in Barrow features four bouncy castles, ensuring your child will burn off plenty of energy. In addition, there is a multi-level climbing structure for older children, and a safe, separate area for babies and toddlers with age appropriate toys. There is also a café serving hot and cold meals with a good range available for children.

  • Address: Rawlinson Street, Barrow-In-Furness, LA14 1BS
  • Telephone: 01229 434 065
  • Website: www.littlesubs.co.uk 
  • Cost: £1 - £5.95 dependant on age and time